Category: Music Industry

Is Jay Z going to be taking his company, Roc Nation, away from a lucrative deal with Live Nation? The future is up in the air for Jay Z and his team at Roc Nation, including high ranking exec Desiree Perez, as the legendary 360 Deal with Live Nation is set to expire in 2018. Jay Z and Desiree Perez negotiated a 10 year deal worth $150 million total back in 2008 and now a ‘buy sell’ option is kicking in for both companies to re-assess the future of their partnership together.

Desiree Perez may not be a name well known among casual music fans, but she has been serving Roc Nation and working alongside Jay Z for almost twenty years now. Desiree Perez and Jay Z come together to make the big nations at Roc and so when the duo sat down with Lucian Grainge, the founder of Universal Music Group, the musical industry started to take notice and assuredly the teams at Live Nation did as well.

Lucian Grainge met with Perez and Jay at a restaurant in Santa Monica, CA. Grainge and Universal Music Group have long had a relationship with Jay Z but this meeting could signify an even larger partnership. A source close to UMG said, “Jay Z is phenomenal and it would be great to get further into business with him.” Universal Music Group and Roc Nation have until next year to work something out if Jay’s team is planning on leaving Live Nation.

Roc Nation has a slew of A-List talent that could be a difference maker for whatever company Roc Nation ended up signing with. Rihanna, Shakira, Jay Z and Meek Mill headline the group at Roc Nation though there are many other talented members on the roster. Perez is cited with helping to develop Rihanna’s career, specifically.